The John Agyekum Foundation (JAK) says it shall engage with state institutions to develop measures that will encourage nationwide adoption of locally produced rice..
According to the Foundation, it will support the value chain actors to forge closer ties to address the challenge of the rice sector and create to create the most conducive environment.
The latest backing for local rice production and consumption comes on the back of President Akufo Addo’s recent announcement which directs all-state institutions to buy local produce especially Ghanaian grown rice beginning January 2020.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday to commend the President for the directive, the JAK Foundation in partnership with value chain institutions such as the Ghana Rice Inter-professional Body (GRIB) and the Miller’s Association of Ghana, expressed their excitement on the President’s directive, and stated that will go a long way to revitalise the local industry which has been blighted by decline.
They were of the view that the president’s directive comes at an opportune time when local producers, together with government and importers are working out modalities for import substitution in the rice sector
According to the stakeholders, they shall in collaboration with other partners, evolve effective and institutionalized monitoring and evaluation strategies for monitoring and evaluating compliance with the president’s directive.
Chief Executive Officer of JAK Foundation, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, speaking at the conference, reiterated that the Foundation and its partners, shall work out strategies for improving service delivery by monitoring mechanism to ensure that public institutions adhere to directive of the president.
Caption: Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, (third from right) speaking at the conference.
Source: John Elliot HAGAN||thefinderonline.com